Defending champion Carlos Alcaraz faced a tough challenge to reach the Wimbledon quarter-finals on Sunday, while world No. 1 Jannik Sinner smoothly advanced to the last eight for the third consecutive year. Injured American Madison Keys withdrew from her last-16 match against Jasmine Paolini, shedding tears after being just one game away from victory. Donna Vekic, meanwhile, navigated through three rain delays to secure her first quarter-final appearance at Wimbledon.
Alcaraz, ranked third in the world, overcame French 16th seed Ugo Humbert with a 6-3, 6-4, 1-6, 7-5 victory, marking his ninth Grand Slam quarter-final in just 14 attempts. Despite a shaky performance that included dropping serve five times and committing 33 unforced errors, the 21-year-old Spaniard managed to maintain his composure. Alcaraz, aiming to be the sixth man to win both the French Open and Wimbledon consecutively, saved four crucial break points in the second set and recovered from a slump in the third.
Humbert fought back fiercely, breaking Alcaraz three times in the third set. However, Alcaraz regained his momentum in the fourth set, breaking Humbert’s serve in the 11th game and swiftly securing the match. "I will be there, fighting until the last ball," Alcaraz vowed, as he prepares to face either American 12th seed Tommy Paul or fellow Spaniard Roberto Bautista Agut, a semi-finalist in 2019.
Over on Court One, top seed Sinner cruised into the quarter-finals with a 6-2, 6-4, 7-6 (11/9) win over American 14th seed Ben Shelton. Sinner, who claimed his first Grand Slam title at the Australian Open earlier this year, is set to face Russian fifth seed Daniil Medvedev for a semi-final spot. Medvedev advanced after 10th seed Grigor Dimitrov retired due to a knee injury. In the women's draw, Paolini will face either reigning US Open champion Coco Gauff or 19th seed Emma Navarro for a semi-final berth.
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